Index of Refraction Calculator

Index of Refraction

Calculate the refractive index of a material based on the speed of light within it.

Constant: Speed of Light in Vacuum (c)299,792,458 m/s
Refractive Index (n)
1.3324
Dimensionless

What is Refractive Index?

The refractive index (or index of refraction) of a material is a dimensionless number that describes how fast light travels through the material.

It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum (c) to the speed of light in the material (v). A higher index means light travels slower in that medium.

The Formula

n = c / v
  • n = Refractive Index
  • c = Speed of light in vacuum (m/s)
  • v = Speed of light in medium (m/s)

Related Tools